By Mamajah Jalloh
The ongoing alleged fraud case involving Forty-four-year-old entrepreneur Bob Sebastian Peterson has been granted bail after making another appearance before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Pademba Road Court No.2 on Monday, 6th July, 2026 in Freetown on two counts of obtaining money by false pretences, contrary to Section 32(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916, and fraudulent conversion, contrary to Section 20(1)(iv)(a) of the same Act.
According to the indictment, on 13 December 2024, at Zenith Bank on Rawdon Street, Freetown, Peterson allegedly, with intent to defraud, obtained US$55,000, equivalent to NLe1,303,500, from Derick Charles Bull by falsely claiming that he had one kilogram (1kg) of gold for sale and would export it from Sierra Leone to the United States of America, knowing the representation to be false.
The prosecution further alleged that the accused fraudulently converted the money to his own use after it had been entrusted to him by the complainant for the purchase and export of one kilogram of gold to the United States.
When the charges were read and explained to the defendant, no plea was taken.
During the proceedings, the prosecution Deputy Superintendent of Police Sorie Conteh sought a two-week adjournment to allow the parties to pursue another line of action base on instructions from the complainant
The Defence counsel S. Komeh applied and adopted his previous bail application on behalf of the defendant.
In his ruling, Magistrate Fornah granted bail to the defendant in the sum of NLe1,500,000 with one surety in like sum and ordered that the surety must be a senior and responsible citizen residing within Freetown with a fixed address, adding that he must provide proof of gainful employment and a valid national identification card together with an employment ID card. The bail and surety are to be approved by the Deputy Assistant Registrar (DAR).
The matter was adjourned to 20th July 2026 for further proceedings.
